Tevez bemused over substitution

Man-of-the-match Carlos Tevez was at a loss as to why Diego Maradona substituted him after his most commanding performance for unbeaten Argentina at the World Cup at Soccer City on Sunday.

The Manchester City dynamo starred with a brace of goals as the two-time world champions blasted their way past Mexico 3-1 and into the quarter-finals.

Argentina will now have an enticing last-eight showdown with Germany.

The match highlight was Tevez's wonder strike from outside the penalty area in the 52nd minute that rocketed past hapless Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez for his second goal of the evening.

But Tevez's opening goal in the 26th minute was clouded in controversy.

He was set free by Lionel Messi, and when his shot was parried by Perez, Messi lobbed the ball back towards goal for Tevez to head it over the line from close range.

The Mexicans vehemently protested that Tevez was in an offside position but Italian referee Roberto Rosetti allowed the goal to stand.

Shortly after Tevez's scorching second goal he was taken off by coach Maradona to a huge ovation from the 84,377 crowd.

"I needed a match like this to show that I am ready," Tevez said.

"I was fighting and felt well, but I didn't understand why I was substituted. I wasn't getting the ball so much, but neither were some other players."